View Full Version : Milky Way's magnetic field
alvarogz
Oct4-10, 12:58 AM
I was wondering what is the source of the magnetic field of our galaxy. Is it possible that such source could be the super massive black hole in the center of the galaxy?
Regards.
Have not heard of this...the cosmic microwave background is an outside source of electomagnetic radiation and will therefore have a VERY VERY weak "magnetic field".
Otherwise I know of no galactic wide field.
Rather than the supermassive black hole itself, as a source, I'd GUESS that all the activity in it's vicinty, accretion, radiation, etc would possibly be a more significant source.
The quasar is powered by an accretion disc around the black hole.
See here for a general discussion on quasars:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar
Another thought:
In our own solar system, not necessarily the entire galaxy, our own sun emits electromagnetic radiation ...all the time...hence there is an associated magnetic field...
But multiply this by the millions/billions (whatever it is) of suns throughout our galaxy and of course there results galactic wide magnetic fields coming from virtually all directions and distances....
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